Abstract: There is described a novel process for pelletizing clay containing aluminumous ore comprising the steps of:a. crushing the clay to within an appropriate size range;b. blending the crushed clay with water to achieve a closely defined moisture content;c. pelletizing the clay in a suitable apparatus to provide clay pellets of predetermined size;d. rolling the pellets for a period of time sufficient to round the edges, corners, etc. and to produce a relatively hard, abrasive resistant surface; ande. drying and calcining the pellets at a temperature within the range of from about 1100.degree. to about 1500.degree. F.

Abstract: Alumina values are extracted from clay by the steps of pelletizing into spherical particles, calcining the pellets in a fluidized bed reactor, extracting the clay in about 30-40% nitric acid, purifying the basic aluminum nitrate produced, crystallizing aluminum nitrate nonahydrate, decomposing the nonahydrate in at least three steps, calcining the produced alumina and reconstituting the NO.sub.x gases to nitric acid.